Arms Length in Montréal
Arms Length in Montréal Brought Passion, Chaos, and Community to the Stage
Arms Length in Montréal felt like the perfect mix of emotional singalongs, chaotic energy, and intimate live music moments. With support from Harrison Gordon and The Callous Daoboys, the night covered everything from emo rock to mathcore while keeping the crowd fully engaged from start to finish.
Harrison Gordon
Opening the night was Harrison Gordon, an emo/rock band with a sound similar to bands like The Front Bottoms or Mom Jeans. Their set felt warm and personal, creating an intimate atmosphere early in the show. Between songs, the band constantly joked with the crowd, hilariously announcing what number each song was before playing it.
Despite the laid back personality on stage, the energy escalated quickly when they started a mosh pit during only the second song of the set. Harrison Gordon recently released their 2025 EP Spring Break!, and the new material fit naturally into the live environment.
The Callous Daoboys
The Callous Daoboys completely shifted the mood with one of the most intense performances of the night. The American mathcore/metalcore band brought nonstop energy, mixing chaotic screams with surprisingly clean vocals throughout their set. One of the most unique parts of their performance was having a fiddle player on stage, something rarely seen in heavier genres like mathcore.
Between songs, hip hop-inspired beats played continuously, making sure there was never a real pause in momentum. Their latest single, Gigantic Parasite Tongue, released on April 2nd, matched the aggressive atmosphere perfectly.
Arms Length
By the time Arms Length hit the stage, the Montréal crowd was fully ready. The Belleville, Ontario pop punk band proved why they’ve become one of the fastest-rising bands in the scene over the last few years. Their mix of heavy guitars and beautiful mellow choruses created constant singalong moments throughout the set. Even though the show was not sold out, it was obvious the audience was filled with dedicated fans who knew every word.
This was only the second date of the band’s current tour, following their Ottawa performance the night before, but the energy already felt massive. Arms Length encouraged fans to crowd surf and jump from the stage, making the room feel chaotic in the best way possible. Earlier this year, the band released a live session with AudioTree, and after hearing them live, it is easy to understand why fans praise it so heavily. Their live sound stays incredibly close to their recordings while still feeling emotional and raw in person.
From Belleville to Montréal, Arms Length continues the tradition of small-town Ontario bands breaking into the larger alternative scene, following paths created by artists like Sum 41 and Avril Lavigne.
